Resiliently tiltable playground apparatus

ABSTRACT

The playground apparatus of this invention includes an occupant supporting structure that is rubber mounted for a rocking or tilting movement relative to an upright shaft carried on a ground supported base member. A plurality of rubber cylinders spaced in a circular row about the shaft are compressible between a pair of disc members mounted on the shaft. The lower disc member is secured to the shaft and the upper disc member forms part of the occupant supporting structure. The upper disc member has an opening surrounding the shaft with a bearing member between the opening and shaft so configured as to provide for a limited tilting movement.

United States Patent [1 1 Ahrens [451 Sept. 17, 1974 [76] Inventor: Claude W. Ahrens, W. Hwy. 6,

Grinnell, lowa 501 12 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 413,050

[52] US. Cl 272/54, 272/52, 272/55 [51] Int. Cl A63g 17/00 [58] Field of Search 272/54, 55, 56, 57 A, 57 B, 272/57 E, 60 R, 60 A, 50, 52, 52.5, 53.1,

53.2, 1 R, 1 C, 65, 66, 30; 267/57.l R, 57.1

A, 63 R, 63 A, 152, 153

Primary Examiner--Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerAmold W. Kramer Attorney, Agent, or FirmRudolph L. Lowell [5 7] ABSTRACT The playground apparatus of this invention includes an occupant supporting structure that is rubber mounted for a rocking or tilting movement relative to an upright shaft carried on aground supported base member. A plurality of rubber cylinders spaced in a circular row about the shaft are compressible between a pair of disc members mounted on the shaft. The lower disc. member is secured to the shaft and the upper disc member forms part of the occupant supporting structure. The upper disc member has an opening surrounding the shaft with a bearing member between the opening and shaft so configured as to provide for a limited tilting movement,

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures RESILIENTLY TILTABLE PLAYGROUND APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a safe and entertaining playground apparatus for use in recreational and schoolground areas. The apparatus is of a compact construction and shielded so as to provide for a maximum safety in its use. The occupants are carried on oppositely arranged pairs of arms extended diametrically of the support post so that rocking is obtained by a bouncing motion of the occupants. The compressive or spring pressure reaction of the rubber mountings to the rocking action of the arms is simply adjustable so that the apparatus can be readily adapted to accommodate different occupant loads. The shock forces incidental to the tilting action of the apparatus are counteracted by the resilient rubber cylinders so as to appreciably reduce wear and damage to the tapered bearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the playground apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with parts broken away to more clearly show its construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; 1

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view as seen on line 66 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The playground apparatus of thi invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as including an occupant carrying unit 10, a rubber supporting assembly 11 for the unit and a base member 12 having an upright post 13 on which the assembly 11 is mounted. The post 13 (FIG. 5) is formed at its upper end with a circular cavity or bore 14 which constitutes a socket for receiving the lower end of a shaft 16 or post extension. Pairs of diametrically opposed holes 17 in the post 13 are open to the socket 14 and the shaft 16 is secured to the post by weldments 18 in the holes 17.

The shaft 16 carries a pair of horizontally disposed vertically spaced plate members 19 and 21 of a disc shape, hereinafter referred to as a lower plate member and an upper plate member, respectively. The lower plate member 19 is rigidly secured to the shaft 16 at a position such that when the lower end of the shaft is within the socket 14, the under surface of the lower plate member rests on an annular shoulder 22 that is formed about the shaft 16 by the upper surface of the post 13.

Projected upwardly from the lower plate member 19 (FIGS. 4 and 5) are a plurality of pins 23 which are arranged in a circular row and circumferentially spaced about the shaft 16. The pins 23 are illustrated in FIG. 4 as being six in number and spaced sixty degrees apart. Projected downwardly from the upper plate member 21 are a plurality of pins 24 corresponding in size and number to the pins 23, with each pin 24 on the upper plate member 21 being arranged in axial alignment with an opposite and associated pin 23 on the lower plate member 19.

The plate members 19 and 21 are vertically spaced apart by a plurality of rubber mountings or resilient members 25 of a cylindrical shape and corresponding in number to the pairs of opposed pins 23 and 24 on such plate members. Each rubber mounting 25 has a circular cavity 26 in each end surface thereof corresponding in size and shape to the pins 23 and 24. With an opposed pair of the pins 23 and 24 received within corresponding cavities 26 in the ends of the rubber mountings 25, the mountings are held in a parallel relation with the shaft 16 and circumferentially spaced about the shaft 16. As shown in FIG. 5, the pins 23 and 24 are of a shorter length than the axial length of the cavities 26 so that the rubber mountings 25 rest on the top surface of the lower plate member 19, and the upper plate member 21 rests on the top surfaces of the mountings 25 for a purpose to appear later.

The upper plate member 21 is formed with a central opening 27 and a pair of diametrically opposed holes 28. The opening 27 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft 16 and loosely receives in a spaced relation the upper end section 29 of the shaft 16, when the rubber mountings 25 are in interlocking engagement with the pins 23 and 24.

A tubular bearing member 31 providing for a tiltable movement of the upper plate member 21 relative to the shaft 16 (FIG. 6) has an annular flange 33 at its upper end. With the bearing member 31 mounted about the shaft 16 and within the space between the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and the side wall of the opening 27, the flange 33 is in resting engagement on the top side of the upper plate member 21. The inner peripheral surface 34 of the bearing member 31 is formed with a downwardly and outwardly extended taper of an angular inclination of about ten degrees relative to the axis of the shaft 16. The upper surface 36 of the flange 33 is formed with a downwardly and outwardly extended taper having an angular inclination of about ten degrees relative to a transverse plane of the shaft 16.

The upper end 29 of the shaft 16 is externally threaded over the section 30 thereof located above the bearing member 31. A flat washer 37 on the shaft 16 is interposed between the annular flange 33 and a clamping nut 38 threadable on the shaft section 30. The nut 38 is locked in an adjusted position by a locking nut 39. By virtue of the resilience of the rubber mounting members 25, and referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that the upper plate 21 is tiltable from the full line position to the dotted line position therefor, through an angular distance of about 10 relative to the axis of the shaft 16. It is also apparent that the mountings 25 yieldably resist such tiltable movement and act to continuously return the upper plate member to its horizontal position.

The upper plate member 21 has a cylindrical sleeve or skirt 41 secured to and projected downwardly from its peripheral edge 42 in a concentrically spaced and covering relation with the lower plate member 19. Secured to the skirt 41 and extended radially therefrom in a diametrically opposed relation are pairs of bracket assemblies 43 shown in FIG. 4 as being four in number and equidistantly spaced apart. Each bracket assembly 43 includes a pair of transversely spaced upright side members 44 the inner ends of which are secured, as by weldments, to the outer peripheral surface of the skirt 41. A horizontal supporting plate 46 positioned between the side members 44 forms with the upper end sections of the side members 44 an upwardly facing channel unit. The supporting plate 46 is welded to the side members 44 and to the skirt member 41 and is formed adjacent each end thereof with a pair of transversely spaced bolt receiving holes 47.

Corresponding to each bracket assembly 43 is a radially extended tubular arm 48 (FIGS. 2 and of a rectangular shape in transverse cross section. The inner end 49 of each arm 48 is of a size and shape to be received in nested engagement within the channel unit of a corresponding bracket assembly 43. Each inner arm end 49 is formed with bolt holes 51 corresponding to the bolt holes 47. An arm 48 is secured to a bracket assembly 43 by bolt assemblies 52 inserted through aligned bolt holes 47 and 51. Located outwardly from the bolt holes 51 is a single transversely centered bolt receiving hole 53.

Extended between adjacent holes 53 (FIG. 2) is an angle member 54 having a horizontal leg 56 positioned against the upper surfaces of adjacent arms 48 with the upright leg 57 thereof located outwardly relative to the shaft 16. The adjacent ends of the angle members 54 are secured to the arms 48 by bolt assemblies 58 inserted through the holes 53 in clamping engagement with the horizontal legs 56.

A cover or guard member 59 of a generally square shape and fiberglass composition is formed with a depending marginal flange 60 of a size to fit about the upright legs 57 of the angle members 54 in a back to back relation therewith.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover member 59 functions as a housing for the bracket assemblies 43, the upper plate member 21 and shaft 16 so that an arm 48 projects outwardly from a corner of the cover member. The outer end of each arm 48 has suitably secured thereto a seat structure 61. The cover member 59 is secured to the angle members 54 by screw members 62 inserted through the upright legs 57 for threadable engagement within the depending flange 60.

In use, the upper plate member 21 is tilted in response to the bouncing or horse riding action of a person seated in the seat structure 61. As previously mentioned, this bouncing action is continuously resisted by the resilient counteraction of the rubber mountings 25. This counteraction of the mounting members 25 can be varied to accommodate a given load weight which is to be carried on the seat structures 61. Thus, by tightening the nut 38 the rubber mountings 25 are more firmly clamped between the plate members 19 and 21 so as to increase the counter acting force or resistance of the mountings against tiltable movement of the upper plate member 21. In this respect, the counter force of the rubber mountings 25 would be increased with an increase of the load weight on the arms 48.

To retain the mountings 25 in their assembled positions with the pins 23 and 24 the upper plate member 21 is held against rotation relative to the lower plate member 19 by means including a pair of upright rods 63 carried on the lower plate member 19 to opposite sides of the shaft 16 for projection through the pair of holes 28 in the upper plate member 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the rods 63 are loosely received within the holes 6 28 so as to permit a free tiltable movement of the upper plate member 21.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A playground apparatus comprising:

a. a base member having a shaft projected upwardly therefrom,

b. a first horizontal plate member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof,

0. a plurality of upright resilient members supported on said first horizontal plate member in a circumferentially spaced relation about said shaft,

d. a second horizontal plate member having a generally centrally located opening positioned about said shaft in a supported position on the upper surfaces of said resilient members, said opening allowing movement of said second horizontal plate member in said supported position therefor;

means disposed between said opening and said shaft for confining said movement to a tilting movement; and

f. an occupant supporting unit secured to said second horizontal plate member for tilting movement therewith.

2. The playground apparatus according to claim 1, including:

a. means for adjusting one of said two plate members axially of said shaft to vary the counter-resistance of said resilient members against tilting movement of said second plate member.

3. The playground apparatus according to claim 1, including:

a. coacting means on said two plate members for locking said second plate member against rotation relative to the first plate member.

4. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

a. each resilient member is comprised of a rubber cylinder having axially aligned cavities in the end surfaces thereof, and

b. a plurality of pin members on each of said plate members corresponding to said resilient members, with the pin members on the first plate member projected toward and in axial alignment with the pin members on the second plate member, and a resilient member positioned between each pair of aligned ones of said pin members with said pair of pin members received within the end surface cavities of a corresponding resilient member.

5. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said occupant supporting unit includes a skirt member secured to and depended from the marginal edge of said second plate member, and

b. at least one pair of arm members secured to said skirt member in a radially extended diametrically opposed relation with said shaft.

6. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said shaft has a threaded upper end section and said second plate member has a central opening for receiving said upper end section in a spaced relation therethrough, and

b. said means disposed between said shaft and said opening includes a tubular bearing member having a laterally extended annular flange at the upper end thereof, said bearing member mounted about said shaft and within said space to a position defined by the engagement of said annular flange with the upper surface of said second plate member,

c. said bearing member having a bore with the side wall thereof tapered downwardly and outwardly from the upper end thereof, and said flange having 1 d. a pair of diametrically opposed radially extended occupant-supporting arms carried on said side wall,

e. a horizontal plate member positioned in a centered relation about and secured to said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof,

f. a plurality of upright resilient members on said plate member arranged in a row concentric with said shaft and in a circumferentially spaced relation,

g. said hub unit positioned about said plate member with the shaft projected through said central opening and in a spaced relation with the side wall thereof whereby said top wall is supported on the upper surfaces of said resilient members, and

h. means restraining said hub unit against upward movement out of engagement with said resilient members and providing for a tilting movement thereof relative to said shaft. 

1. A playground apparatus comprising: a. a base member having a shaft projected upwardly therefrom, b. a first horizontal plate member rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, c. a plurality of upright resilient members supported on said first horizontal plate member in a circumferentially spaced relation about said shaft, d. a second horizontal plate member having a generally centrally located opening positioned about said shaft in a supported position on the upper surfaces of said resilient members, said opening allowing movement of said secoNd horizontal plate member in said supported position therefor; e. means disposed between said opening and said shaft for confining said movement to a tilting movement; and f. an occupant supporting unit secured to said second horizontal plate member for tilting movement therewith.
 2. The playground apparatus according to claim 1, including: a. means for adjusting one of said two plate members axially of said shaft to vary the counter-resistance of said resilient members against tilting movement of said second plate member.
 3. The playground apparatus according to claim 1, including: a. coacting means on said two plate members for locking said second plate member against rotation relative to the first plate member.
 4. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. each resilient member is comprised of a rubber cylinder having axially aligned cavities in the end surfaces thereof, and b. a plurality of pin members on each of said plate members corresponding to said resilient members, with the pin members on the first plate member projected toward and in axial alignment with the pin members on the second plate member, and a resilient member positioned between each pair of aligned ones of said pin members with said pair of pin members received within the end surface cavities of a corresponding resilient member.
 5. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. said occupant supporting unit includes a skirt member secured to and depended from the marginal edge of said second plate member, and b. at least one pair of arm members secured to said skirt member in a radially extended diametrically opposed relation with said shaft.
 6. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. said shaft has a threaded upper end section and said second plate member has a central opening for receiving said upper end section in a spaced relation therethrough, and b. said means disposed between said shaft and said opening includes a tubular bearing member having a laterally extended annular flange at the upper end thereof, said bearing member mounted about said shaft and within said space to a position defined by the engagement of said annular flange with the upper surface of said second plate member, c. said bearing member having a bore with the side wall thereof tapered downwardly and outwardly from the upper end thereof, and said flange having the top surface thereof tapered downwardly and outwardly from said shaft at an inclination substantially equal to the taper inclination of said bore side wall, and d. a locking assembly for said bearing threadable on said shaft upper end section in engagement with the inner peripheral surface of said flange.
 7. A playground apparatus comprising: a. a base member, b. an upright shaft secured to said base member, c. a hub unit of an inverted cup shape having a side wall and a top wall with a central opening therein, d. a pair of diametrically opposed radially extended occupant-supporting arms carried on said side wall, e. a horizontal plate member positioned in a centered relation about and secured to said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, f. a plurality of upright resilient members on said plate member arranged in a row concentric with said shaft and in a circumferentially spaced relation, g. said hub unit positioned about said plate member with the shaft projected through said central opening and in a spaced relation with the side wall thereof whereby said top wall is supported on the upper surfaces of said resilient members, and h. means restraining said hub unit against upward movement out of engagement with said resilient members and providing for a tilting movement thereof relative to said shaft. 